Puzzles and roleplays

[Encreedem]

I had those thoughts in my head for about a week now, so I might as well share them with you guys. I don't have too much experience with text based roleplaying, therefore I'm asking you to point out any mistakes that I made in this post:


I've usually seen the puzzle genre in one of these three forms:

1. Actual puzzle-games that focus on this genre,
   
2. roleplays that incorporate them to add variety to the gaming experience and
   
3. text based single player puzzle adventures.
   

It might be because of me being new to roleplaying, but I've never seen any actual multiplayer puzzle roleplays, especially on this site. Well, I have seen one on another site but it wasn't what I was hoping for. I'll get to that one in a second.


I dare to say that almost every first person puzzle game focuses on the puzzles, not the character or story. You just play the game with the goal of progression but without immersion. On the other hand, roleplays do the exact opposite: Immersion seems to be one of the most important aspects. If puzzles are included, they are usually just something that appears between two encounters.


Now here's my (first) question: Are there any puzzle RPs on this site? If yes, where? If not, why?


In my opinion, a puzzle roleplay could be quite interesting. Just imagine being in one and the questions that might come up: Would you really jump through that portal if the fall could kill you? Would you help or sacrifice others if you could just progress without them? Can't you just throw that object to someone instead of having to solve this complex puzzle? In other words: It would have a lot more realism than "common" puzzle games. There would be big differences in terms of interaction with one's environment and other characters.


As for how it would be played: I think there would be almost no difference to other roleplays. There are many scenarios that I could think of where the RP would be focused on puzzles. As far as I know in games like D&D, the interaction with someones environment would require a DM/GM but interaction between players can happen whenever and however they want as long as it doesn't break immersion. It would be the same in a puzzle RP.


So what are your opinions? Do you agree with my points? Are puzzle roleplays possible? What would they look like? Could there be problems compared to other roleplays? Does it seem interesting enough to make an IC?


Lastly, if this isn't the correct forum for this thread, please tell me or move it. Feel free to ask about anything that I haven't made clear. And don't be afraid to voice your opinion, even if you think it's a stupid idea. I enjoy and encourage criticism!

 

[White Masquerade]

I'm sure there are a few on the site. I couldn't point you to where though. As for why there aren't that many, well it's intensive. It takes a lot of work. Why put in the work to do something like that when not many people will play? For a lot of people, it's not worth the effort; even if the idea is interesting.


Second, deciding fate for players is treacherous water. "If they jump into the portal and end up dying, will they be upset? Will they think I'm picking on them?"





To make a role-play like that work, you have to be seen as fair. You also have to prove the whole concept works. Those are two big logs a puzzle RP creator is going to have to jump over. Your idea is idea is interesting! It is a point Z while we're at A. There's going to be a lot tough work and other issues needed to be cleared out before you get there.


Now, don't call your thought a stupid idea. It's cool you want to do something like that. I encourage you to go for it. You'll be like a pioneer. It'll be tough, but you need to make what you want to see, even if others can't picture it being there. I'll be here if you want to go over anything.

 

[Encreedem]

I'm aware of the facts that you mentioned. Especially that it would require lots of work which I'd be willing to invest should people actually be interested. I guess making an IC should be sufficient to gain that information.


Deciding someone's fate is something I'd be very careful with. As I said, a puzzle RP would be focused on realism. Players would only suffer the consequences of their actions if the same were the case in real life. Someones walks through a dark alleyway? Could be risky, but probably nothing will happen. Jump from a building instead of taking the stairs? Yeah, that's gonna give you at least a broken leg. At the beginning I would also stay away from Fantasy and Futuristic themes. That way someone (hopefully) wouldn't do something dangerous just because there might be something supernatural that would help/save them.


I guess my biggest worries are my lack of experience when it comes to GMing and, as you said, showing that the concept works. Like, how to actually build the world around the players and show them the results of their actions, whether a puzzle might be too easy or hard at a certain point or if I'd be able to give everyone the same chance to contribute to the overall progress.


Anyway, thanks for the reply! Showing me that it could be possible helps a lot.

 

[White Masquerade]

:5/5: Haha, I see you've already been thinking about it for a long time.


For the lack of GM experience, don't worry about it. You really have to follow only one guideline: If I were in the other person's shoes, would I understand and accept what I'm doing? The rest will fall into place from there.


Showing the concept working is real easy. Like you said before, it's like any other RP. Just make one all the same with puzzles inside. It's making it interesting, where you might get stuck. If you want to link that with building a world around players, I suggest doing a horror RP in an Insane Asylum.


It's a small setting (easy to control), the consequences are very real, and can be powerful.


After that it's just a matter of making the puzzles hard or thinky, which shouldn't be too difficult in that setting.

 

[Encreedem]

Hmm... can you elaborate on that idea with the insane asylum? I had some ideas myself but I noticed that they might be a little bit too complex to start with. From the sound of it, it seems that you had something like a classical single player text based puzzle adventure (god, that's long) in mind. Well, with multiple people but the same idea: Look for items and and use them on objects to progress through the game/RP.


It sounds good but I had something mostly different in mind, which is why I honestly don't really know how to turn that idea into an actual roleplay.

 

[White Masquerade]

Yup, you got what I was going for. The asylum would be to colorize the setting. I don't know if you wanted danger in the RP so I did not suggest zombies. Crazy people can just be loud, scary and manipulative if you want a non-violent story.


It could either be normal people implanted there, or patients that might be crazy themselves trying to get out. For excitment you might want to throw in NPC workers trying to keep them in.


If you don't want NPC, then having there be an earthquake, or some other reason the asylum would be breaking down, is a non-person force to play against. So you have finding keys for doors, finding medication, getting the right medication for your problem, getting the right dosage for your problem, avoiding falling floors, floors that might fall after you reach a dead end, falling pieces of roof, navigating dark rooms cause of busted lights, etc.

 

[Encreedem]

That actually sounds good! I'm not much for violence, especially when it comes to describing it, therefore this might be something I can use. I guess now I'll just work out the ideas and see if people are actually interested.


Thanks again for the help!

 

[White Masquerade]

No problem!